Ekurhuleni’s firefighters are upping their skills and recently a number of them attained an international qualification.
The first-ever group of technical rescuers in Africa to be accredited by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) studied through the City of Ekurhuleni Training Academy.
This academy is the only SAESI-accredited training provider for full technical rescuers qualifications in line with IFSAC requirements.
A total of 25 firefighters, eager and ready to roll out their skills, were chosen from different fire stations across Ekurhuleni.
They were all successful in the 17 technical rescue modules they had to complete.
The modules included rope, confined space, structural collapse, trench, swift water, vehicle, machinery and technical rescue modules among others.
During the intake, they all had to comply in with IFSAC standards.
A doctor’s medical fitness certificate was regarded as the primary intake requirement.
Secondary to that, the firefighters’ physical fitness levels, including an endurance obstacle course, had to be complied with.
The students are the first in the country to complete and qualify as full IFSAC-accredited technical rescuers.
One of the benefits to the metro is the time factor.
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These specific rescuers will serve as an added advantage in terms boosting the numbers to the existing firefighters within Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS).
As part of the skills development programme, day-to-day rescue activities and vehicle rescues will be effectively and efficiently dealt with.
“Placed strategically across the metro, their skills will assist in minimising the loss of life and damage to property in the shortest possible amount of time,” said William Ntladi, district manager media liaison for DEMS.
“These are the rescuers at grass-root level (firefighter level) who are readily available to respond to all eventualities, natural or unnatural.”
The programme is continuous.
A new batch of firefighters is already in class for the 2019 academic year.
“The academy intends to train and qualify an extra 24 firefighters as technical rescuers, come the end of 2019,” said Ntladi.
“The aim is to sustain the training until every firefighter qualifies as a technical rescuer within the metro.
“The objective will augment emergency services’ core functions of saving lives and properties as primary responsibilities.”
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